ASIA/INDIA - Christians beaten and a pastor’s finger was cut off in an attack by Hindu extremists

Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - Twenty Christians were attacked and beaten, the Protestant Pastor Srirangam Shanthakumar of the "Agape Church", was wounded and his finger was cut off. This is the toll of the final attack carried out by a group of Hindu extremists which took place at Anekal, a rural village in the district of Bangalore in Karnataka state, southern India. As reported to Fides by the "Global Council of Indian Christians", an organization that monitors the rights of Christians in India. In past days Pastor Shanthakumar, who has a wife and two children, was leading a prayer vigil at the residence of a believer of his community when a group of about 20 Hindu radicals stormed in the house, attacking the people present with sticks and iron bars. As they were beating up the Christians, the radicals accused the believers to forcibly convert Hindu believers to Christianity. Many faithful were injured, one of the Pastor’s fingers on his left hand was cut off and a believer has serious head injuries and damage to his right hand. The Hindu militants then fled quickly. The Pastor and the faithful reported the incident to the police and were taken to the hospitals in area.
Confirming these episodes, today a new report on anti-Christian violence in India was released by the "Evangelical Fellowship of India", which brings together hundreds of evangelical denominations. The Report, sent to Fides, confirms Karnataka as the most violent and insecure state, reporting 140 serious episodes of persecution against Christians, characterized by false allegations of "forced conversions". The Report calls for the state to ensure the protection of Indian Christians and respect for religious freedom in the country. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/01/2012)